Hyderabad: Top government sources told Deccan Chronicle that inputs trickling in from different sources in the past few days indicate that there is a likelihood of violence once the election results are out on May 23, and EC officials in New Delhi received a request from the state seeking 10 companies of paramilitary forces.
“Violence is anticipated soon after the election results are out and therefore a requirement of 10 companies of paramilitary forces has been sent to the EC. Even the state police have been asked to be alert. Trouble makers will be dealt with sternly,” government officials said.
Police officials say that though all appears calm at the moment, they have been getting disturbing inputs in the last several days. “In this election in AP, everything is at stake for both parties. Trouble makers in both parties are gearing up for a showdown in case the verdict is not to their liking. The losing party will indulge in a show of strength,” they said.
The central paramilitary forces will start arriving in Andhra Pradesh in the next couple of days and will be stationed at different places. Election Commission officials will keep a close eye on the state police lest there be allegations of bias towards one party.
Already, on April 11, the day of polling, AP witnessed widespread violence in which one worker each from the TD and YSR Congress died as supporters of both parties clashed over faulty voting mach-ines. It was worried about violent reactions that impelled the EC to postpone the May 1 release of Ram Gopal Varma’s movie Laksh-mi’s NTR on May 1.
“'Though all districts are sensitive from the point of view of election results, our main focus areas will be the entire Rayalaseema region, Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam districts,” a police official said.
